The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-15
FRUITS ON The FARM.


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neers established for themselves homes
on the wild frontier. They had no
luxuries and expected none. But with
their children Of the present genera
ton circumstances are very different
They till with comparative ease the
once stumpy, rough farms. Their
houses are pleasant and well furnished.
and no small part of the good things
of this life falls to their lot Since
this condition exists, it is not surpris-
ing that SO many of them are in want
of the luxury which, above all Others
they might be expected to have in
abundance, namely. fruitsp Certainly
none are better entitled to what the
soil produces than those who own and
till it. 1t is some other cause than
want of title which prevents SO many
families from enjoying this cheap and
healthful luxury.
If we should ask the average farmer
why he had no small fruits, what would
he say? Something like this. proba-
bly,: II have no time to trife with
them, besides | don I know how. Then,
they have so many diseases and insect
pests that even fruit-growers have a
hard time to succee ed. And perhaps
the main reason is that l have never
started. II we want any fruit we gen.
orally buy it, Are these excuses
valid7 Let us examine and see. FARM
ers, like all others, have all the time
there is. The assertion that they have
none for raising fruit is simply saying
that they have spent it more profitably
or pleasurably at some other work. If
they find greater profits in farm crops
than fruits, they are getting rich faster
than is generally supposed. Many
fruit-grower makes more money out Of
ten acres than his ncighbor makes out
of a hundred acres at general farming.
Fruit is worth about AS much in the
house as it will bring at the store. Thus
it is evident that the more of it farmers
raise for their own use, the more nearly
do they approach to those who make
ten times the profits they do. The time
consumed in fruit culture for home use
is of little account. Grapes, currants,
raspberries, blackberries. gooseberries
will all produce considerable with even
little care.
The most time, then, must be given
to the strawberry bed. Here, too, it
need hardly be noticed, as little patch
which can be prepared and planted in
the garden in half day, and cared for
with the outlay Of an hour week, will
produce berries enough for a large
family. OF the subject of pleasure we
will speak later. The plea of ignorance
is hardly to be entertained. Much
knowledge is not positively necessary
where only the home is to be supplied.
Any reader of this article has the OPP
portunity of learning all that he really
needs to know on the subject. Out
siders may we'll be surprised at the
amount that is said about fruit pests
and diseases, by fruit growers. They
must remember, however, that these
men depend on this business for the in
come, and that what is of little i'm
portance to one who grows little fruit, is
greatly multiplied where much is
grown. There are really few diseases
or pests which farmers need dread, ex-
cept grape rot, and this disappears if
the vines grow on house under a
cornice.
Now let us look at the last excuse:
Do farmers generally buy all the fruit
they wantp We think not. The sea-
son of fruits is the season of hurry on
the farm. During the summer there is
no time to be spent in going to the dis
tant market for fruit. Farmers might as
we'll raise it as go SO far after it. The
natural result is that they and their
families have little except what is
grown by themselves. If these excuses
are really SO poor, why will so many
farmers go without fruit when the adj
vantages of having it are really so
greatp None of them deny that they
like it. Not only do they enjoy it, but
their wives and children are as deeply
interested as themselves. Why will
fathers fail to give this pleasure to
those entrusted to their care? Not be-
cause they are hard hearted, but be-
cause they have never set aboutit. 70
speak of health to farmers seems hardly
necessary; but if it were, we would say
that many q person can testify that
fruit is better than powders and pills.
The pleasure of having plenty Of fruit
is doubled in the case of the farmers
wives. for they not only enjoy eating
it but enjoy thinking how easily it is
prepared, and how they are saved from
standing over a hot stove when the
thermometer registers hundred de-
grees in the shade out of doors. I said
above that would speak Of the pleas
ures Of fruit growing. One Of the
greatest is the change which it affords.
How different is hoeing little straw
berry bed, where every stroke seems to
count, from working in forty acre
corn field! With what pleasure will
a man watch his few pet grapevines!
And these are refining pleasures.
Growing fruit has all the advantages
OF general farm work without the
heavy exhausting labor.
Now we come to the last and perhaps
greatest advantage. Fruit makes home
attractive. This can not be measured
in dollars and cents, but its value is
very high. Many farmer wonders
why his son does not stay on the farm.
The boy could easily answer that he
prefers to run his chances of getting
the luxuries that most town people
have to staying on the farm. where he
is sure of living, but perhaps almost
devoid of those little things which GO
to make home the best place in the
world. When the country home be-
comes the most attractive of all homes,
then, and not till then, will the boys
and girls stay willingly on the farm.
No one will deny that an abundance Of
fruit is desirable. Then why not have
it? Make the effort Break away from
the ruts of your forefathers. Tighten
the toll of your wife. Give your chill
dren this luxury then since it is SC
cheap. Make home attractive in this
particular at least. DO all this by plant
ing fruit. 1t takes only little care
If you have not the time and inclina.
ton, give your boys piece Of the gar.
den. buy the plants and give them time
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